Desk.



PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

J. L. RHODES.

DESK

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1907.

HUI

1X" in eases :No. 857,110. PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

J. L. RHODES.

DESK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JAlVLES L. RHODES, OF GREEN FOREST, ARKANSAS.

DESK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1907.

Application filed January 5, 1907. Serial No. 350,911-

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES L. Rnonns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Green Forest, in the county of Carroll and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Desks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to desks, and particularly to desks adapted for use by postmasters in connection with money order business.

It has for its object to provide means for holding in convenient position the pads, books, and other devices essential or desirable to the conduct of money order business and the preparation and delivery of money orders. p

A further feature of the invention is that the lid can be closed in such manner that it will cover the contents of the desk and also serve as a table or desk for ordinary use, but nevertheless holding the money order paraphernalia so that it will be readily accessible for the purpose of making out money orders whenever desired.

The invention will be found particularly useful as a piece of post-ellice furniture in small post-oflices where money order and other business is transacted in the same room or at the same desk.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of the desk, with the lid open. Fig. 2 is a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and illustrates a compartment for a money order book or pad, the lid of such compartment being in closed position. Fig. 4 is a similar view with the lid in raised position. Fig. 5 is a similar view with the lid placed down in position to form a writing surface, as in the act of writing a money order. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan of the table top showing a device for tearing the money order from its stub, and also showing a compartment for a dater stamp or the like.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates the top of the desk mounted upon legs 7 and having drawers 8 and other ordinar appliances as desired. The lid of the des is indicated at 9, hinged at the back as at 10, to a'strip 11, secured to the rear edge of the top. The lid has strips 12 which match the strip 11 in height and so, when the lid is closed, form a hollow or compartment between the top of the desk and the lid.

This compartment gives space for envelop racks or clips, as indicated at 13, on the under side of the lid, which are adapted to hold envelops and other papers used in money order or other business. Holders are also provided for an ink bottle and pens.

At one end of the desk top, preferably the right far corner, it is provided with a series of vertical compartments formed by a casing secured to the under side of the desk top and opening upwardly through said top, as indicated at14, this compartment having a series of vertical partitions 15 to form separate spaces for account and l6CO1Ll l)O0l(S as indicated at 16. These slide up and down in their respective places and are conveniently accessible for making entries when desired.

When the lid is closed the books are covered.

Located at the left end of the desk is a compartment adapted particularly for holding a money order pad and produced by setting a casing 18 in an opening produced in the desk top, the casing having therein a compartment 17 of proper size to receive a money order pad, as indicated at 19. A screw 20, in the bottom of the casing, serves to raise or lower the false bottom 1.7 of the compartment, to bring the surface of the pad at the proper height, or flush with the desk top. Said compartment is also provided with a lid 21 preferably formed of a flat piece of metal, and it is hinged as at 22 beyond the right hand end of the pad 19. This lid forms a writing surface when a money order is being written, and serves at other times to cover the pad and form a continuous surface for the desk top. \Vorking in cooperation with the lid 21 is a clasp 23 which is hinged tothe same rod as the lid 21. At its outer or right hand end the lid is reduced, as at 24, and the lip or edge of the clasp 23 closes down upon said reduced portion. The clasp is springoperated by means of a flat spring 25 set under the hinge, the clasp having a cam lug 26 which bears against the spring and which holds the clasp in either open or closed position, as desired. By pressing on the tail 24c of the clasp its clamping edge may be lifted to insert the edge of a money order thereunder, to hold said end while the money order is being written.

A tear-off device consists of a plate 27 which is hinged at 28 and let in a recess in the tabletop, at ari ht angle to the recess '17. \V hen closed the Fate 27 is flush with the top of the desk. ft is positioned, as stated,

IIO

at right angles to the compartment 17 and the pad therein, so that when opened it will swing over the stub of said pad, as shown in Fig. 6. And, on its under side, (which is the upper side when,sw'ung open) the plate is provided with a slide 28 having a tearing edge 29. This slide may be moved lengthwise along the plate 27 by means of the finger piece 30, and t e parts are so ositioned that the tearing edge of the sli e will register with any of the lines of divisions usually found on money-orders between the amount spaces. Consequently the slide may be vmanipulated to tear oif a money order at any desired amount place. As stated, the plate 27 when swung open, comes down upon the stub of the money order; and consequently, when held down, binds said stub so that the money order can bereadily torn therefrom at the proper place I A compartment is also provided for a dater stamp 31 and its pad 32. This is located in convenient position just beyond the compartment for the money order tablet, and is arranged to be closed by a lid 33 which also is let in to be flush with the table top when closed. i

In the use of the writing arrangement .for

' the money orders, the lid 21 is lifted or swung open, carrying with it the clasp 23 which, as stated,'is hinged on the same rod. 'Then by means of the screw 20 the money order tablet is brought to the proper elevation; Then the original and duplicate leaves of the order to be written are lifted from the remainder of the tablet and the lid 21 is closed down upon said remainder. Then the original and duplicate leaves are laid down upon the lid whlch thus forms a writing surface thereunder. When the lid is closed down the clasp remains in open position, being retained in such position by, the spring. When the money order leaf to be written has been laid flatly upon the lid 21 the clasp 23 is pressed of the deskis closed, and locked, the money' order pad, stamp, books, and other'dev'ices are all concealed and held safely and the desk top forms a table which is capable of any ordinary use.

I claim: v

'1. A desk provided with a compartment in the top adapted to receive a tablet or the like,

a plate supported by the desk top and movable under the upper sheet or sheets of the tablet when they are lifted, and a clasp at the end of the plate, adapted to hold the end of the sheet.

2. A desk provided with a depressed compartment in the top adapted to receive a tablet or the like, and a tearing guide hinged to the desk topbeside said compartment and arranged to swing over upon the tablet therein, said tearing guide having a slide movable across the tablet, and the desk top having a recess in which the. guide and slide fit when swung back. v

3. A desk having a depressed compartment in the top thereof, adapted tohold a tablet or the like, a lid hinged to the top atone end of the compartment and arranged to swing down between the upper sheet or sheets of the tablet and the remainder thereof when said sheet or sheets are lifted, and a tearing guide hinged to the top beside the compartment and arranged to swing down upon said sheet.

4] A desk having a depressed compartment in the top thereof, adapted to hold a tablet or the like, a lid for said compartment, hinged to the desk top, and a spring clasp hinged to the desk top at the hinged end of the lid, and

overlapping the same, and adapted to hold the end ofa sheet on the lid.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two wltnesses'. 

